Listener Essay - Thanksgiving Conversations

    Carole Owens is a writer living in Stockbridge, MA.

  Farmers, artisans, vintage collectors, and makers of handmade and quality goods will converge at the 2nd annual Basilica Farm & Flea, the large-scale farm-stand and flea market taking place over Thanksgiving Weekend at Basilica Hudson in Hudson, NY.

A local, artisan alternative to big box and mall shopping, Basilica Farm & Flea showcases fantastic wares made by regional and very talented people.

The weekend kicks off with the Black Friday Soirée from 5 to 9pm on Friday, Nov 28th - which will offer attendees local food, music, and fun.

Here now to tell us more are Melissa Auf der Maur, creative director of the Basilica Hudson, Farm & Flea’s farmer coordinator Lauren Giambrone (a farmer herself and maker of Good Fight Herb Co.), and Hudson River Exchange organizer Stella Yoon.

  In Holland, the event, “Sinterklaas” has ushered in the season of joy and sharing and created childhood memories for centuries. And in colonial times, it was the one shared celebration that took place annually in New Amsterdam (now New York).

Drawing on the Hudson Valley’s Dutch roots, Sinterklaas in the Hudson Valley is entering its seventh year as a unique, community-built cultural event. It now takes place over two weekends in Kingston on Saturday, November 29th and December 6th in Rhinebeck.

Joining us on the Roundtable this morning to talk about Sinterklaas Hudson Valley, we welcome co-chair Susan Linn and Artistic Director of Sinterklass - Jeanne Fleming.

  Cinco de Mayo has become a big deal in the U.S. in recent years. But it is not a major holiday in Mexico. It is the commemoration of a Mexican military victory over France.

It was actually a marketing push by Corona beer that created the Cinco de Mayo we know today, filled with parties, food and, of course, lots of drink. St. Patrick's Day has a similar disconnect between the holiday in the home country and the way it is celebrated in America.

Here now to speak about how the U.S. appropriates ethnic and cultural holidays from other countries are Culinary Institute of America Professors Beth Forrest and Deirdre Murphy.